An analysis of data from the Tortuguero National Park, led by Diogo Veríssimo (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent) looked at population dynamics and the increasing predation of endangered and critically endangered species of marine turtles by jaguars – a species under threat in Costa Rica.

The findings show that the Costa Rican authorities may soon be faced with a interesting conservation management dilemma. On the one hand, the predation of marine turtles by jaguars is increasing and it is unclear as to the level at which it will stabilize. On the other hand, the degree to which marine turtles are of importance in the diet of the jaguar in and around Tortuguero National Park remains unclear.

Diogo Veríssimo explained: “As biodiversity faces growing anthropogenic pressures, conservationists increasingly deal with conflicts between the management of different species. “The resolution of such conflicts often requires making challenging decisions, particularly when the species are of conservation concern and/or have a high media profile. This is especially true when it comes to predation events where one species directly impacts the other.